Greens at Vernon and Woodbank parks in Offerton have been left with deep gauges, rendering the surfaces unplayable.

The damage was spotted by Express bowls correspondent Jamie Bramley on Saturday (December 28) and is thought to have been done in the run-up to Christmas.

Nearby football pitches are also understood to have been torn up.

Jamie said: “It's a real shame. It doesn't look like it's going to be an easy job to repair – the damage is pretty bad and appears to have been done by a motor-cross bike.

“They are historic, flagship greens and some of the best in Stockport.

“When people out of borough come to play league bowls at Vernon and Woodbank parks, they say they're up there with the best.

“I don't think they can be repaired – certainly not in the middle of winter.”

Offerton councillor John Smith added: “It's just mindless. It costs the council a lot of money to maintain Stockport's bowling greens.

“At a time when the council is facing cut-backs, saving the borough's bowling greens is something we've worked hard to do.

“I just don't understand why someone would do this – what kind of enjoyment they get out of it, I don't know.

“For this sort of thing to happen really is a shame.”

One of the football fields in Offerton that has also been damaged

The majority of the borough's bowling greens faced the axe earlier this year, with plans to scrap surfaces at at Brinnington, Cale Green, Heaton Moor, Heaton Norris, Houldsworth, St Thomas’s and South Reddish parks.

But a council U-turn saw a 'victory for people power' with town hall bosses deciding against the closures following a public consultation.

A Stockport Council spokesman said: “We are aware of the damage to the bowling greens and football pitches.

“A recovery plan is being put together. The police are being made aware of the incidents.”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “On December 22, police were called to Vernon Park following reports of off-road bikes.

“The bowling green had been cut up. Officers are making enquiries, and these are ongoing.”